Burks taking on larger role

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Marquis Burks taking on larger role, producing for Auburn’s defensive line

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

5-6 minutes

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Penn State running back Noah Cain (21) dives for extra yardage near the goal line while being tackled by Auburn defensive tackle Marquis Burks (92) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)AP

One of the biggest questions facing Auburn entering the season had to do with the personnel on the interior of the defensive line.

Both of Auburn’s starting defensive tackles from last season were gone by the start of fall camp. Daquan Newkirk transferred to Florida back in January, while Tyrone Truesdell departed the program in August and also joined the Gators before the start of the season. A void was left at defensive tackle, and the Tigers needed someone to step up.

Enter, Marquis Burks.

The former junior college transfer appeared in just five games last season but has taken on a more prominent role in Auburn’s defense this season, and the early returns have been promising from the 6-foot-3, 314-pounder.

“He’s coming on,” starting left tackle Austin Troxell said. “He’s playing with a lot of energy. He’s a great player, and he’s going to continue to make plays for us on the defensive side of the ball.”

Despite not starting any of Auburn’s first three games, Burks has been one of the Tigers’ most productive defensive linemen this season. He has eight tackles, with three for a loss and two sacks. His three stops behind the line of scrimmage and two sacks are both second on the team behind T.D. Moultry, who has four and 2.5, respectively. Burks has also forced a pair of fumbles, with one in each of the last two games.

The Chicago native has been so steady early on this season that he earned defensive lineman of the week honors from Auburn’s coaching staff for each of the team’s first two games. Bryan Harsin and his staff do not give out weekly player awards after losses, so no players were recognized publicly by the coaches for last week’s game at Penn State, though he did earn one of the team’s honorary captain designations for Saturday’s homecoming game against Georgia State (3 p.m. on SEC Network).

“Burks is stepping up,” defensive lineman Colby Wooden said. “Burks, he’s looking really good…. Glad to see him shining, because he’s put in the effort.”

Burks early-season production has already doubled his totals from last season, when he appeared in just five of Auburn’s 11 games. During his first season on the Plains, Burks had four total tackles, with one for a loss (a sack against LSU).

Since that lackluster debut season at the SEC level, though, teammates have praised Burks for the work he put in to improve during the offseason. He got in better shape this offseason, benefiting from the strength and conditioning program instituted by new strength coach Jeff Pitman — getting stronger in the weight room and faster with his times in conditioning drills.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth since he first got here,” linebacker and team captain Owen Pappoe said. “…He’s put the work in and it’s paying off now, man.”

On the field, Burks honed his technique and handwork, and he has worked to improve his get-off at the snap when it comes to pass rush. Most of all, according to Harsin, he has harnessed a mindset that embraces preparation and how to translate that to gamedays.

“His practice habits, from when we got here to where he is now, are improved,” Harsin said. “To me, he’s had the mindset, and I think coach (Nick) Eason’s done a very good job with him of just really taking the mentality that he has and honing it into using it properly as far as just how the preparation in meetings should look and focusing on that, how the practice and drills and carryover into the team periods — how that should go. It’s taking that mentality and really honing it where he can maximize just bettering himself every day.”

It has all led to a bigger role for Burks and a noticeable uptick in production this season — one that Harsin would like to see from more of Auburn’s defensive linemen as the Tigers prepare to open SEC play next week.

“He’s a guy who’s been playing well up front,” Harsin said. “We need more guys to be able to do that. We need more on the defensive line that can come in and provide really, really quality play.”

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

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We've talked about guys who needed to step up this year. Burks is the first of (hopefully) many who may have been buried under the prior staff to step up into more prominent roles under the current regime.